Portable computing device and headset interface

ABSTRACT

A method of authenticating the interoperability of a headset and a device, as well as a headset and a device, is provided. The method includes, in a headset, monitoring at least one input for a verification signal, and, in response to failing to detect the verification signal within a predetermined period of time, selectively disabling a speaker and/or microphone of the headset. An alternative method includes, in a device, detecting a coupling of a headset to the device, transmitting a verification signal to the headset, and receiving, from the headset, at least one of a serial number associated with the headset, an identification of a user of the headset, a security certificate, or a voice translation template associated with the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to mobile or portablecomputer devices and headsets used in voice-driven systems having speechrecognition capabilities.

BACKGROUND

Wearable, mobile and/or portable computing devices, or terminals, areused for a wide variety of tasks. Such devices allow workers using themto maintain mobility, while providing the worker with desirablecomputing and data-processing functions. Furthermore, such devices mayprovide a communication link to a more powerful and centralized computersystem, which further handles the organization of the tasks beingperformed. An overall integrated system may involve a combination of acentral computer system for tracking and management of the tasks, aplurality of mobile devices and associated peripherals, as well as thepeople (“users”) who use the devices and interface with the devicesand/or the computer system.

To provide an interface between the central computer system and theworkers, wearable devices are oftentimes voice-driven; i.e., areoperated using human speech input. As such, the central computer anddevices incorporate speech recognition technology. To communicate in avoice-driven system, for example, speech input must be passed into andout of the portable devices to provide the proper speech interface witha user. Through the speech interface, the workers are able to receivevoice instructions, ask questions, report the progress of their tasks,and report working conditions, for example. Using such devices, the workis done virtually hands-free without equipment to juggle or paperwork tocarry around.

There are various ways to pass the speech signals into and out of adevice. In one scenario, a microphone and speaker located on the actualportable device may be used. However, that may not be practical in manyenvironments. As may be appreciated, such systems are often utilized innoisy environments where the workers are exposed to various extraneoussounds that might affect the quality of their voice communication withtheir device and/or the central computer system. For example, a portabledevice, mounted on a belt or other device to secure it to the user, maybe too far away from the user's mouth for effective communication.Therefore, more isolated or directional voice-capture techniques, suchas headsets, have to be utilized.

Traditional wired headsets are somewhat popular for interfacing withportable devices and require a wire that extends from the headset to thedevice. A headset typically includes a microphone and one or morespeakers. The device includes an appropriate socket for coupling with aconnector or plug of the headset wire and also includes audio processingelectronics for processing the speech signals sent from/to the headset.Alternatively, wireless headsets are also popular for interfacing withportable devices and communicate with the device wirelessly, such asthrough radio frequency (RF) communications.

In an exemplary configuration, a worker is assigned a particular headsetand maintains that headset while using one of a plurality of devices.However, interoperability of the headset to a device is not alwaysguaranteed. For example, features of a headset may be inoperable with aparticular device, or vice versa. Thus, it may be desirable toassociate, or otherwise link, a particular headset with a particulardevice such that headsets cannot be used with devices with which theyare not associated.

Moreover, while workers often keep a particular headset for sanitary orother purposes, they often choose different devices with which tocomplete tasks from week-to-week, day-to-day, and even shift-to-shift.The devices, therefore, must remotely determine information associatedwith the worker for each shift. This often involves a variety ofinteractions that are time-consuming and can reduce the amount of time aworker performs assigned tasks. After determining the identity of aworker, the device may still be required to download additionalinformation associated with the worker, including, if necessary, voicetranslation templates that are used to convert the speech input of theuser to machine readable input. Thus, it may be desirable to keep atleast some data on the headset and transfer that data to a device.

Furthermore, headsets with extensive processing power are oftendifficult and expensive to manufacture. For example, headsets ofteninclude proprietary connectors as well as extensive battery and powermanagement systems. This additionally requires the batteries of aheadset to be changed and/or recharged frequently, as there is oftensignificant power used by the headsets. The proprietary connectors aswell as the batteries and/or power management systems often add to thecosts of manufacturing and assembling those headsets, eroding a profitbase derived therefrom. Thus, it may be desirable to provide a headsetto overcome those issues.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide for methods of authenticating theinteroperability of a headset and a device, as well as a headset anddevice consistent therewith. One method includes, in a headset,monitoring at least one input for a verification signal, and, inresponse to failing to detect the verification signal within apredetermined period of time, selectively disabling at least one of aspeaker or a microphone of the headset. In an alternative embodiment,one method includes, in a device, detecting a coupling of a headset tothe device, transmitting a verification signal to the headset, andreceiving, from the headset, at least one of a serial number associatedwith the headset, an identification of a user of the headset, a securitycertificate, or a voice translation template associated with the user.

In one embodiment, the headset includes a speaker, a microphone, aprocessing unit, and a memory including program code. The program codeis configured to be executed by the processing unit of the headset toauthenticate the interoperability of the headset and a device, tomonitor at least one input of the headset for a verification signal,and, in response to failing to detect the verification signal within apredetermined period of time, selectively disable at least one of thespeaker or the microphone. In that embodiment, the headset may furtherinclude modem circuitry to communicate data to, and receive data from,the device.

In one embodiment, the device includes a processing unit, a headsetinterface, and a memory including program code. The program code isconfigured to be executed by the processing unit of the device to detecta coupling of a headset to the device, transmit a verification signal tothe headset, and to receive, from the headset, at least one of a serialnumber associated with the headset, an identification of a userassociated with the headset, a security certificate, or a voicetranslation template associated with the user. In that embodiment, theprogram code may be further configured to utilize at least a portion ofthe device to operate as a softmodem to communicate with the headset.

These and other advantages will be apparent in light of the followingfigures and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with a general description of the invention given above and thedetailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explainthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a device and a headsetconsistent with embodiments of the invention, as worn by a user;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of at least some components of thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of at least some components of theheadset of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system configured with aplurality of devices and respective plurality of headsets consistentwith embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations toauthenticate interoperability of the device and headset of FIG. 1 fromthe point of view of the headset;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations toauthenticate interoperability of the device and headset of FIG. 1 fromthe point of view of the device; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations to maintainthe connection of at least one of a speaker or a microphone in responseto a heartbeat from the terminal of FIG. 1 in the headset of FIG. 1.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarilyto scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of variouspreferred features illustrative of the basic principles of thedisclosure. The specific design features of the sequence of operationsas disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions,orientations, locations, and shapes of various illustrated components,will be determined in part by the particular intended application anduse environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments mayhave been enlarged, distorted or otherwise rendered differently relativeto others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hardware and Software Environment

Turning to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like partsthroughout the several views, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a portableand/or wearable computer or device 10 (hereinafter, “device” 10) and aperipheral device or headset 12 (hereinafter, “headset” 12) consistentwith embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, the device 10 isa wearable device, which may be worn by a user 14, such as on a belt 16as shown. In alternative embodiments, the device 10 is carried orotherwise transported, such as on a lift truck.

In some embodiments, the user 14 interfaces with the device 10 (and thedevice 10 interfaces with the user 14) through the headset 12, which iscoupled to the device 10 through a cord 18 and a connector 20.Specifically, the headset 12 includes a speaker 22 and a microphone 24.The speaker is configured to play audio (e.g., such as to instruct theuser 14 to perform an action), while the microphone 24 is configured tocapture speech input from the user 14 (e.g., such as for conversion tomachine readable input by the device 10). As such, and in someembodiments, the user 14 interfaces with the device 10 hands-freethrough the headset 12. In some embodiments, the connector 20 is anaudio connector, such as a three-contact tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) audioconnector, a four contact tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) audio connector,or another audio connector as is well known in the art.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of at least some components of thedevice 10 consistent with embodiments of the invention. The device 10includes at least one processing unit 30 coupled to a memory 32. Eachprocessing unit 30 is typically implemented in hardware using circuitlogic disposed in one or more physical integrated circuit devices, orchips. Each processing unit 30 may be one or more microprocessors,micro-controllers, field programmable gate arrays, or ASICs, whilememory 32 may include random access memory (RAM), dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), flash memory, and/oranother digital storage medium, and that is also typically implementedusing circuit logic disposed in one or more physical integrated circuitdevices, or chips. As such, memory 32 is considered to include memorystorage physically located elsewhere in the device 10, e.g., any cachememory in the at least one processing unit 30, as well as any storagecapacity used as a virtual memory, e.g., as stored on a mass storagedevice, a computer, and/or another device coupled to the device 10,including coupled to the device 10 through at least one networkinterface 34 (illustrated as, and hereinafter, “network I/F” 34) by wayof at least one network 36. It will be appreciated that the at least onenetwork 36 includes at least one private communications network (e.g.,such as an intranet) and/or at least one public communications network(e.g., such as the Internet). The device 10, in turn, couplex to thenetwork 36 through the network I/F 34 with at least one wired and/orwireless connection.

In addition to the network I/F 34, and in some embodiments, the device10 includes at least one input/output interface 38 (illustrated as, andhereinafter, “I/O I/F” 38) configured to communicate with at least oneperipheral other than the headset 12. Such a peripheral may include atleast one of one or more training devices (e.g., to coach a new userthrough training to use the device 10, headset 12, and/or a system towhich they are coupled), image scanners, barcode readers, RFID readers,monitors, printers, and/or other peripherals (none shown). In specificembodiments, the I/O I/F 38 includes at least one peripheral interface,including at least one of one or more serial, universal serial bus(USB), PC Card, VGA, HDMI, DVI, and/or other interfaces (e.g., forexample, other computer, communicative, data, audio, and/or visualinterfaces) (none shown). The device 10 also includes a power supply 40,such as a battery, rechargeable battery, rectifier, and/or other powersource. The device 10 monitors the voltage from the power supply 40 witha power monitoring circuit 42. In some embodiments, and in response tothe power monitoring circuit 42 determining that the power from thepower supply 40 is insufficient, the device 10 shuts down to preventpossible damage.

In some embodiments, the device 10 communicates with the headset 12through a headset interface 44 (illustrated as, and hereinafter,“headset I/F” 44) which is in turn configured to be coupled to theconnector 20 when that connector 20 is coupled to (e.g., inserted in) acorresponding portion of the device 10. Though not intending to belimiting, the connector 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a TRS connector asdiscussed hereinabove. In some embodiments, the headset I/F 44 iscoupled to each electrically conductive portion of the connector 20(e.g., the headset I/F 44 is coupled to all three electricallyconductive portions of a TRS connector or all four electricallyconductive portions of a TRRS connector) to communicate with the headset12. Thus, the headset I/F 44 provides at least one electrical signal tothe speaker 22 of the headset 12 (e.g., a speaker signal), receives atleast one electrical signal from the microphone 24 of the headset 12(e.g., a microphone signal), provides at least one power signal to theheadset 12 on the same connection that the speaker signal is providedand/or that the microphone signal is received, and/or provides aconnection to an electrical ground to the headset 12.

Furthermore, the headset I/F 44 includes at least one componentconfigured to communicate, interpret, and/or receive a modulated signalfrom the headset 12. For example, at least a portion of the device 10operates as a softmodem to exchange data with the headset 12. Inparticular, a softmodem is a modem with minimal hardware capacitiesdesigned to utilize at least a portion of the processing unit 30, memory32, and/or other components of the device 10 to perform at least sometasks performed by dedicated hardware in a traditional modem. As such,the headset I/F 44 includes at least one component that is configured,along with at least a portion of the processing unit 30, memory 32,and/or other components of the device 10 to operate as a softmodem. Insome embodiments, the headset I/F 44 includes one or more amplifiers(not shown) to amplify the speaker and/or microphone signal.

The device 10 may be under the control and/or otherwise rely uponvarious software applications, components, programs, files, objects,modules, etc. (hereinafter, “program code”) consistent with embodimentsof the invention. This program code may include an operating system(e.g., such as a Windows Embedded Compact operating system asdistributed by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.) (not shown) aswell as one or more software applications (e.g., configured to operatein an operating system or as “stand-alone” applications). As such, thememory 32 is configured with a speech recognition and synthesisapplication 46 to convert speech input from the user 14 into machinereadable input, as well as play a speech dialog for the user 14 (e.g.,such as a speech prompt and/or other information). Moreover, the memory32 is configured with a handshake application 48 to verify theauthenticity of a headset 12 connected to the device 10. The memory 32is further configured with a data store 50 to store data related to thedevice 10, headset 12, and/or user 14.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of at least some components of theheadset 12 consistent with embodiments of the invention. The headset 12includes at least one processing unit 60 coupled to a memory 62.Similarly to the device 10, each processing unit 60 of the headset 12 istypically implemented in hardware using circuit logic disposed in one ormore physical integrated circuit devices, or chips, and may be one ormore microprocessors, micro-controllers, field programmable gate arrays,or ASICs, while memory 62 may include RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash memory,and/or another digital storage medium, which is also typicallyimplemented using circuit logic disposed in one or more physicalintegrated circuit devices, or chips.

In some embodiments, the device 10 and headset 12 are configured tocommunicate with each other such that data can be transferredtherebetween. As such, headset 12 includes at least onemodulator-demodulator circuit 64 (illustrated as, and hereinafter,“modem” 64) to communicate with the device 10. In some embodiments, themodem 64 is configured to receive data from the device 10 on a line tothe speaker 22 as at 66 (hereinafter, “speaker line” 66) and communicatedata to the device 10 on a line from the microphone 24 as at 68(hereinafter, “microphone line” 68). In alternative embodiments, themodem 64 is configured to receive and communicate data to the device 10on either the speaker line 66 or the microphone line 68. In furtheralternative embodiments, the modem 64 is configured to receive data fromthe device 10 on the microphone line 68 and communicate data to thedevice 10 on the speaker line 66. It will be appreciated that at least aportion of the modem 64 may be implemented using circuit logic disposedin one or more physical integrated circuit devices, or chips.

The processing unit 60 controls the coupling of the speaker 22 to thespeaker line 66 through a speaker relay 70 configured therebetween.Similarly, the processing unit 60 controls the coupling of themicrophone 24 to the microphone line 68 through a microphone relay 72configured therebetween. Thus, the processing unit 60 is configured toselectively control the coupling of the speaker 22 and/or microphone 24to the device 10. In some embodiments, each of the relays 70, 72 is anormally-closed relay such that the relays 70, 72 are closed absent atleast one signal from another component of the headset 12 (e.g., asignal from the processing unit 60, a power signal, and/or a signal fromanother component of the headset 12), while in alternative embodimentseach of the relays 70, 72 is a normally-open relay such that the relays70, 72 are open absent at least one signal (e.g., a signal from theprocessing unit 60, a power signal, and/or a signal from anothercomponent of the headset 12). In further alternative embodiments, atleast one of the relays 70, 72 is a normally-closed relay while theother is a normally-open relay.

The headset 12, similarly to the device 10, may be under the controland/or otherwise rely upon various operating systems, softwareapplications, components, programs, files, objects, modules, etc.(hereinafter, “program code”) consistent with embodiments of theinvention. As such, the memory 62 is configured with a verificationapplication 74 to verify the interoperability of the device 10 and theheadset 12. The memory 62 is further configured with a data store 76 tostore data related to the device 10, headset 12, and/or user 14.

The headset 12 is configured to draw power from the device 10 throughthe speaker line 66 and/or the microphone line 68 via a parasitic powerconverter 78. In particular, the parasitic power converter 78 isconfigured to selectively convert electrical signals from the device 10into power signals for the processing unit 60, memory 62, modem 64,relays 70, 72, and/or additional components of the headset 12 (powerconnections not shown). The parasitic power converter 78 includes atleast one rectifier (not shown) to convert the electrical signals fromthe device into a power signal and at least one energy storage device(e.g., such as a capacitor) (not shown) for stabilizing power to theheadset 12. The headset 12 may therefore operate without a battery,advantageously decreasing fabrication, part, and/or assembly costs.Optionally, the headset 12 includes a battery 79 that is charged by theparasitic power converter 78.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a system 80 that includes aplurality of devices 10 and headsets 12 consistent with embodiments ofthe invention. In some embodiments, each device 10 is coupled with atleast one headset 12 and in wireless communication with a computingsystem 82 through the network 36. Computing system 82, in specificembodiments, is a computer, computer system, computing device, server,disk array, or programmable device such as a multi-user computer, asingle-user computer, a handheld device, a networked device (including acomputer in a cluster configuration), a mobile phone, a video gameconsole (or other gaming system), etc. The computing system 82, in turn,is coupled to the network 36 through a wired and/or wireless connection.In alternative embodiments, each of the devices 10 is in direct wirelesscommunication with the computing system 82.

In some embodiments, the system 80 is configured to allow a variety ofusers 14 to communicate with the computing system 82 for sending andreceiving information regarding the activities and tasks to beperformed. The computing system 82 may execute program code for handlinga particular task, such as inventory and warehouse management. In turn,the computing system 82 may provide each device 10 with program coderegarding activities and tasks to be performed specific to the user 14of that particular device 10. In alternative embodiments, each of thedevices 10 is a stand-alone device that operates without communicationwith the computing system 82.

In some embodiments, a suitable device 10 for implementing the presentinvention is a Talkman® wearable computer available from Vocollect,Inc., of Pittsburgh, Pa. The device 10 is in a voice-driven system,which uses speech recognition technology for documentation and/orcommunication. The headset 12 provides hands-free voice communicationbetween the user 14 and the device 10. For example, in one embodiment,the device 10 receives digital instructions from the computing system 82and converts those instructions to speech dialog (e.g., audio output) tobe provided to the user 14 through the headset 12. The user 14 thenreplies, via speech input, which is converted to a useable digitalformat (e.g., machine readable input) to be stored in the device 10,transferred back to the computing system 82, and/or otherwise processedby a component of the system 80.

Embodiments of the invention address drawbacks in the prior art byproviding an enhanced headset 12 that does more than simply play speechdialog from the device 10 for a user 14 and capture speech input forconversion to machine readable input by the device 10. In oneembodiment, the device 10 and headset 12 are configured to authenticatetheir interoperability and/or transfer data regarding the device 10,headset 12, user 14, and/or system 80. In some embodiments, the device10 and headset 12 authenticate their interoperability by exchangingverification signals, which are non-speech signals. In specificembodiments, the device 10 is configured to provide a verificationsignal and the headset 12 is configured to respond to the verificationsignal with a handshake signal. In various embodiments, the datatransferred between the device 10 and the headset 12 includes a serialnumber associated with the headset 12, an identification of a user 14associated with the headset 12, a security certificate, and/or a voicetranslation template associated with the user 14, all of which are alsonon-speech signals. As such, and in some embodiments, the datatransferred between the device 10 and headset 12 includes a uniquecharacterizing parameter associated with a particular user 14 and/oroperational parameters associated therewith that is used to configurethe device 10.

When the interoperability of the device 10 and headset 12 is notauthenticated, the headset 12 is configured to selectively disable thespeaker 22 and/or the microphone 24. In particular, the headset 12 isconfigured to selectively disable the speaker 22 and/or the microphone24 by selectively decoupling the speaker 22 and/or the microphone 24from the device 10 such that the speaker line 66 and/or the microphoneline 68 are decoupled from the respective speaker 22 and/or microphone24. Moreover, in some embodiments, the headset 12 is configured toreceive and/or transmit data from the device 10 only in response to theauthentication of interoperability. Thus, in specific embodiments, theheadset 12 is configured to “lock-out” data transfer and/or allfunctionality in response to failing to authenticate operation with aparticular device 10.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that theenvironments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 are not intended to limit thescope of embodiments of the invention. In particular, the device 10,headset 12, and/or system 80 may include additional componentsconsistent with alternative embodiments of the invention. Indeed, thosehaving skill in the art will recognize that other alternative hardwareand/or software environments may be used without departing from thescope of the invention. Additionally, those having ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the device 10, headset 12, and/or computingsystem 82 may include more or fewer applications disposed therein. Assuch, other alternative hardware environments may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of embodiments of the invention.

The routines executed to implement the embodiments of the invention,whether implemented as part of an operating system or a specificapplication, component, program, object, module or sequence ofinstructions executed by one or more computing systems may be referredto herein as a “sequence of operations,” a “program product,” or, moresimply, “program code.” The program code typically comprises one or moreinstructions that are resident at various times in various memory andstorage devices in a computing system, and that, when read and executedby one or more processing units of the device 10, headset 12, and/orcomputing system 82, cause that device 10, headset 12, and/or computingsystem 82 to perform the steps necessary to execute steps, elements,and/or blocks embodying the various aspects of the invention.

While the invention has and hereinafter will be described in the contextof various fully functioning processing systems, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the various embodiments of the invention arecapable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms,and that the invention applies equally regardless of the particular typeof computer readable signal bearing media used to actually carry out thedistribution. Examples of computer readable signal bearing media includebut are not limited to physical and tangible recordable type media suchas volatile and nonvolatile memory devices (e.g., solid state drives,USB drives, etc.), tapes, floppy and other removable disks, hard diskdrives, optical disks (e.g., CD-ROM's, DVD's, Blu-Ray Discs, etc.),among others, and transmission type media such as digital and analogcommunication links.

In addition, various program code described hereinafter may beidentified based upon the application or software component within whichit is implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, itshould be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature thatfollows is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention shouldnot be limited to use solely in any specific application identifiedand/or implied by such nomenclature. Furthermore, given the typicallyendless number of manners in which computer programs may be organizedinto routines, procedures, methods, modules, objects, and the like, aswell as the various manners in which program functionality may beallocated among various software layers that are resident within atypical computer (e.g., operating systems, libraries, APIs,applications, applets, etc.), it should be appreciated that theinvention is not limited to the specific organization and allocation ofprogram functionality described herein.

Software Description and Flows

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 100 illustrating a sequence of operations toauthenticate the interoperability of a headset and a device from thepoint of view of the headset consistent with embodiments of theinvention. In particular, the sequence of operations occurs uponcoupling (e.g., electrically connecting) the headset and device. Assuch, the headset initially detects a connection to the device (block102). The headset also rectifies an electrical signal from the device(block 104). In particular, the headset rectifies an electrical signalon a speaker line of the headset. Thus, the headset draws power tooperate one or more processing units, a memory, a modem, and/or at leastone relay configured thereupon. The headset then monitors at least oneof its inputs (e.g., an input that is coupled to a speaker line of theheadset and/or an input that is coupled to a microphone line of theheadset) for a verification signal from the device (block 106). It willbe appreciated that block 102 and/or 104 are optional blocks and theheadset may automatically begin monitoring at least one of its inputsfor the verification signal as in block 106 once there is power to do soand in response to coupling the headset to the device.

At block 108, the headset determines whether a valid verification signalhas been received from the device. For example, the headset monitors atleast one of its inputs for a verification signal for a predeterminedtime of about five seconds, for example, from the time upon which it iscoupled to a device, from the time it begins rectification of theelectrical signal from the device, and/or from the time the headsetbegins monitoring at least one of its inputs for the verificationsignal. Alternatively, the headset monitors for a verification signalfor a shorter or longer period of time. In specific embodiments, thepredetermined period of time is set by a user, purchaser, and/ormanufacturer of the headset. In block 108, the headset also validatesthe verification signal by comparing it to a stored verification signal.In various embodiments, the verification signal includes a tone, aseries of tones, and/or data, such as a security certificate.

In some embodiments, in response to determining that a validverification signal has not been received (“No” branch of decision block108) the headset selectively disables a speaker and/or microphoneconfigured thereupon (block 110). In some embodiments, the headset alsoterminates the rectification of the electrical signal in block 110, thusending the sequence of operations. In some embodiments, the headsetselectively disables the speaker and/or microphone by opening relayscoupled to the respective speaker and/or microphone, while inalternative embodiments the headset selectively disables the speakerand/or microphone by maintaining open relays coupled to the respectivespeaker and/or microphone.

Returning to block 108, in response to determining that a validverification signal has been received within the predetermined period oftime (“Yes” branch of decision block 108), the headset transmits ahandshake signal to the device (block 112). In some embodiments, thehandshake signal indicates to the device that a valid verificationsignal has been received and allows the device to authenticate theinteroperability of that headset with that device. As such, thehandshake signal may include a tone or a series of tones, as well asdata to authenticate the headset, such as a serial number associatedwith the headset, an identification of a user associated with theheadset, a security certificate, and/or a voice translation templateassociated with the user to the device. In some embodiments, the deviceadditionally utilizes the data from the handshake signal to downloadinformation specific to the user, if necessary. When the devicedetermines that it is authorized to operate with the headset, the devicetransmits a handshake response signal to the headset. In response to thehandshake response signal, the headset determines whether a validhandshake response has been received (block 114). This determination ofthe validity of the handshake response signal takes place for apredetermined period of time and also involves a comparison of areceived handshake response to a stored handshake response. When a validhandshake response has not been received (“No” branch of decision block114) (e.g., for example, a valid handshake response has not beenreceived within a predetermined period of time and/or a receivedhandshake response is not a valid handshake response), the headsetselectively disables a speaker and/or microphone configured thereupon aswell as ends the rectification of the electrical signal (block 110), andthe sequence of operations may end.

In response to determining that a valid verification signal has beenreceived from the device (“Yes” branch of decision block 108) and inresponse to determining that a valid handshake response has beenreceived (“Yes” branch of block 114), the headset receives data from thedevice and/or transmits data to the device (block 116). In someembodiments, the headset is configured to store a voice translationtemplate associated with its respective user and transmit that voicetranslation template to the device in response to a valid verificationsignal and valid handshake response. In those embodiments, the headsetis configured to store additional data, such as a serial number for theheadset, an identification of the user of the headset, and/or a securitycertificate. For example, each user may desires to keep and maintaintheir own headset for sanitary or other purposes. Thus, users are issuedheadsets and may choose from among a plurality of devices. Byconfiguring data specific to the user on each headset, time and effortis not spent determining a user associated with a headset and/ordownloading data specific to the user, advantageously allowing quickeruse of the system, potential time savings in reducing login procedures,and increased efficiency.

In alternative embodiments, when a valid verification signal has beenreceived (“Yes” branch of decision block 108), after a valid handshakeresponse has been received (“Yes” branch of decision block 114), and/orafter data has been received from and/or transmitted to a device (block116), the headset selectively enables the speaker and/or microphone(block 118). In some of the alternative embodiments, the headsetselectively enables the speaker and/or microphone by closing relayscoupled to the respective speaker and/or microphone, while in otheralternative embodiments the headset selectively enables the speakerand/or microphone by maintaining closed relays coupled to the respectivespeaker and/or microphone. Thus, the device is configured to capturespeech input from the user through the microphone and play speech dialogfor the user through the speaker when the interoperability of theheadset and the device is authenticated. In an optional step, inresponse to selectively enabling the speaker and/or microphone (block118), the headset end rectifications of the electrical signal from thedevice (block 120). It will be appreciated that, in alternativeembodiments, the headset continues rectification of the electricalsignal and, in further alternative embodiments, the device periodicallyprovides a heartbeat to which the headset is responsive to maintain theconnection of the speaker and/or microphone to the device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart 130 illustrating a sequence of operations toauthenticate the interoperability of a headset and device from the pointof view of the device consistent with embodiments of the invention. Inparticular, the sequence of operations occur upon coupling (e.g.,electrically connecting) a headset and device. In two optional steps,the device initially detects a connection to the headset (block 132) andprovides an electrical signal to the headset for rectification (block134). Specifically, the device provides the electrical signal through aconnection to the speaker, microphone, and/or another dedicated line tothe headset. The device then sends a verification signal to the headset(block 136).

After sending the verification signal (block 136), the device determineswhether a valid handshake signal is received from the headset (block138). This determination takes place for a predetermined period of timeand also involves a comparison of a received handshake signal to astored handshake signal. When a valid handshake signal is not received(“No” branch of decision block 138) (e.g., for example, a validhandshake signal is not received within a predetermined period of timeand/or a received handshake signal is not a valid handshake signal), thedevice selectively disables signals to and/or from the headset (e.g.,including the electrical signal) (block 140) and the sequence ofoperations may end. Specifically, the device selectively disables atleast one signal to and/or from the headset by prohibiting thetransmission of at least one signal to the headset and/or ignoring atleast one signal from the headset. When the device determines that avalid handshake signal is received (“Yes” branch of decision block 138),the device sends a handshake response (block 142). In some embodiments,the device additionally receives data from the headset and/or transmitsdata to the headset (block 144) similarly as described in connectionwith FIG. 5.

Returning to FIG. 6, when data is received from the headset (“Yes”branch of decision block 146), the device determines whether thereceived data includes a voice translation template that is, in turn, beused as a template to convert speech input of the user into machinereadable input (block 148). When the received data does not include avoice translation template (“No” branch of decision block 148), thedevice utilizes the received data to download information specific tothe user (block 150). For example, the received data may include aserial number for the headset, an identification of the user of theheadset, and/or a security certificate. The device, in turn, isconfigured to utilize the received data to request a voice translationtemplate associated with a user in turn associated with that data from aseparate computing system. For example, in some embodiments, the deviceprovides the separate computing system with the serial number of theheadset and requests a voice translation template, or other information,associated with a user of the specified headset and/or associated withthe headset itself. In alternative embodiments, the device provides theseparate computing system with the identification of the user andrequests a voice translation template, or other information, associatedwith that user. In further alternative embodiments, the device providesthe separate computing system with the security certificate and requestsa voice translation template, or other information, associated with theuser that is in turn associated with that security certificate.Returning to block 146, when the device does not receive data from theheadset (“No” branch of decision block 146), the device attempts toestablish a voice translation template for the user (block 152). Inparticular, the device may attempt to establish a voice translationtemplate when the user first uses the device, headset, and/or system. Insome embodiments, this voice translation template is subsequently storedin the device or headset, and/or provided to the computing system forstorage.

In response to receiving a voice translation template from the headset(“Yes” branches of decision blocks 146 and 148), in response todownloading a voice translation template from the computing system(block 150), or in response to establishing a voice translation template(block 152), the device converts speech input of a user into machinereadable input and interacts with the user through speech dialog (block154). In some embodiments, the device is configured to provide aheartbeat to the headset, the headset being responsive to the heartbeatto maintain the connection of the speaker and/or microphone to thedevice.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart 160 illustrating a sequence of operations for theheadset to receive and respond to a heartbeat signal from the device. Inparticular, the flowchart 160 of FIG. 7 may be executed after theflowchart 100 of FIG. 5 such that the heartbeat is provided when theinteroperability of the headset and device is authenticated. As such,and returning to FIG. 7, the headset resets a connection timer (block162) and determines whether a connector timer has timed out (block 164).When the connection timer has not timed out (“No” branch of decisionblock 164) the headset continues to determine whether the connectiontimer has time out (block 164). When the connection timer has timed out(“Yes” branch of decision block 164) the headset determines whether aheartbeat signal has been received before the connection timer timed out(block 166). In various embodiments, the heartbeat signal includes atone, a series of tones, and/or data that indicates that the headsetshould maintain the connection between the device and the speaker and/ormicrophone. When a heartbeat signal is received before the connectiontimer timed out (“Yes” branch of decision block 166) the headset againresets the connection timer (block 162). When a heartbeat signal is notreceived before the connection timer timed out (“No” branch of decisionblock 166), the headset disables the connection of a speaker and/ormicrophone to the device and ends the rectification of the electricalsignal (block 168).

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by adescription of the various embodiments and the examples, and while theseembodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not theintention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope ofthe appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages andmodifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Thus,embodiments of the invention in broader aspects are therefore notlimited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method.Additionally, any of the blocks of the above flowcharts may be deleted,augmented, made to be simultaneous with another, combined, or beotherwise altered in accordance with the principles of the embodimentsof the invention. Accordingly, departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the scope of applicant's general inventiveconcept.

Other modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of authenticating the interoperabilityof a headset, having a speaker and a microphone, and a device, themethod comprising: coupling the headset and device together with a cordhaving a speaker line coupled with the speaker and a microphone linecoupled with the microphone; in the headset, converting electricalsignals from the device into power for the headset using a parasiticpower circuit coupled with at least one of the speaker line or themicrophone line of the cord; using a modem circuit powered in theheadset and coupled with at least one of the speaker line or themicrophone line, monitoring at least one input on at least one of thespeaker line or the microphone line for a verification signal from thedevice; and in response to failing to detect the verification signalwithin a predetermined period of time, selectively disabling at leastone of the speaker or the microphone of the headset.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the verification signal includes a tone signal.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the verification signal includes a series oftone signals.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in responseto receiving the verification signal from the device, using the modemcircuit for transmitting a handshake signal from the headset to thedevice.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: in response toreceiving a handshake response signal from the device, using the modemcircuit and transmitting at least one of a serial number associated withthe headset, an identification of a user associated with the headset, asecurity certificate, or a voice translation template associated withthe user to the device.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: inresponse to failing to receive a handshake response signal from thedevice, selectively disabling at least one of the speaker or themicrophone.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the handshake signalincludes a tone signal.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the handshakesignal includes a series of tone signals.
 9. The method of claim 4,wherein the handshake signal includes at least a portion of a securitycertificate.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving atleast one of an identification of a user associated with the headset, asecurity certificate, or a voice translation template associated withthe user.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: storing, in amemory of the headset, at least one of a serial number associated withthe headset, the identification of the user, the security certificate,or the voice translation template.
 12. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: selectively terminating conversion of the electrical signalsfrom the device into power.
 13. A method of authenticating theinteroperability of a headset, having a speaker and a microphone, and adevice, the method comprising: coupling a headset and device togetherwith a cord having a speaker line coupled with the speaker and amicrophone line coupled with the microphone; detecting the coupling ofthe headset to a device; sending electrical signals to the headset fromthe device with at least one of the speaker line or the microphone lineof the cord and converting the electrical signals from the device intopower for the headset using a parasitic power circuit; transmitting averification signal to the headset; using a modem circuit powered in theheadset and coupled with at least one of the speaker line or themicrophone line, sending from the headset, at least one of a serialnumber associated with the headset, an identification of a userassociated with the headset, a security certificate, or a voicetranslation template associated with the user.
 14. The method of claim13, further comprising: utilizing at least one of the serial number, theidentification, the security certificate, or the voice translationtemplate to download information specific to the user to the device froma computing system.
 15. The method of claim 13 further comprisingwirelessly downloading with the device at least one of the serialnumber, the identification, the security certificate, or the voicetranslation template from the computing system.
 16. The method of claim13, further comprising: utilizing the voice translation template in thedevice to convert speech input associated with the user into machinereadable input.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:providing speech dialog to the user through a speaker of the headset.18. The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving, from theheadset, a handshake signal transmitted by the modem circuit; anddetermining, from the handshake signal, whether the headset isauthorized to communicate with the device.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising: in response to determining that the headset isauthorized to communicate with the device, transmitting a handshakeresponse signal to the headset.
 20. A headset, comprising: a cord havinghaving at least a speaker line and a microphone line a speaker coupledto the speaker line; a microphone coupled to the microphone line; amodem circuit coupled with at least one of the speaker line or themicrophone line and configured to send and receive data; a parasiticpower circuit coupled with at least one of the speaker line or themicrophone line and operable for converting electrical signals on atleast one of those lines to power for the headset; a processing unit;and a memory including program code, the program code configured to beexecuted by the processing unit to authenticate the interoperability ofthe headset and a device, the program code further configured tomonitor, with the modem circuit, at least one input of the headset froma device for a verification signal and, in response to failing to detectthe verification signal within a predetermined period of time,selectively disable at least one of the speaker or the microphone. 21.The headset of claim 20, wherein the verification signal is a tonesignal.
 22. The headset of claim 21, wherein the program code is furtherconfigured to use the modem circuit to receive, from the device, atleast one of an identification of a user associated with the headset, asecurity certificate, or a voice translation template associated withthe user.
 23. The headset of claim 22, wherein the program code isfurther configured to store, in the memory, at least one of a serialnumber associated with the headset, the identification, the securitycertificate, or the voice translation template.
 24. The headset of claim20, wherein the verification signal is a series of tone signals.
 25. Theheadset of claim 20, wherein the program code is further configured to,in response to receiving the verification signal, use the modem circuitto transmit a handshake signal from the headset to the device.
 26. Theheadset of claim 25, wherein the program code is further configured to,in response to receiving a handshake response signal from the device,use the modem circuit and transmit at least one of a serial numberassociated with the headset, an identification of a user associated withthe headset, a security certificate, or a voice translation templateassociated with the user to the device.
 27. The headset of claim 25,wherein the program code is further configured to, in response tofailing to receive a handshake response signal from the device,selectively disable at least one of the speaker or the microphone. 28.The headset of claim 25, wherein the handshake signal includes a tonesignal.
 29. The headset of claim 25, wherein the handshake signalincludes a series of tone signals.
 30. The headset of claim 25, whereinthe handshake signal includes at least a portion of a securitycertificate.
 31. The headset of claim 20 , wherein the program code isfurther configured to selectively terminate conversion of the electricalsignals from the device into power by the parasitic power circuit.
 32. Adevice, comprising: a processing unit; headset interface circuitry; anda memory including program code; the processing unit, memory andinterface circuitry operable to provide modem communications with aheadset that is coupled to the headset interface circuitry with a cordhaving a speaker line and a microphone line; the program code configuredto be executed by the processing unit to detect a coupling of a headsetto the device and to send electrical signals to the headset from thedevice over at least one of the speaker line or the microphone line ofthe cord to be converted into power for the headset using a parasiticpower circuit; the program code further configured to transmit averification signal to the headset, and to receive, from the headset, atleast one of a serial number associated with the headset, anidentification associated with a user of the headset, a securitycertificate, or a voice translation template associated with the user.33. The device of claim 32, the device further comprising: a networkinterface, wherein the program code is further configured to utilize atleast one of the serial number, the identification, the securitycertificate, or the voice translation template to download informationspecific to the user from a computing system across a network coupled tothe network interface.
 34. The device of claim 33, wherein the networkinterface is a wireless network interface.
 35. The device of claim 32,wherein the program code is further configured to utilize the voicetranslation template to convert speech input associated with the userinto machine readable input.
 36. The device of claim 32, wherein theprogram code is further configured to provide a speech dialog to theuser through a speaker of the headset.
 37. The device of claim 32,wherein the program code is further configured to received, from theheadset, a handshake signal and to determine, from the handshake signal,whether the headset is authorized to communicate with the device. 38.The device of claim 37, wherein the program code is further configuredto, in response to determining that the headset is authorized tocommunicate with the device, transmit a handshake response signal to theheadset.